IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


/. 


^ 


.'«' 


:/i 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


u   lit 

^  IS  HIM 


2.2 


U    II  1.6 


V] 


A^ 


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a»  .X' 


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/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  nanadien  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  tochniquet  at  bibiiographiquas 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  a(>y  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignif  icantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagte 


Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  pallicui6a 


I     I   Covar  title  miaaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  giographiquaa  an  coulaur 


□   Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□   Coloured  platea  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchea  et/ou  illuatrationa  en  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autrea  documenta 


Tight  binding  may  cauae  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reiiure  aerrde  peut  cauaer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortion  ia  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  iaavaa  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poaaible.  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certainea  pagea  blanchea  aJoutAea 
lore  d'une  reatauration  apparaiaaent  dana  la  texte. 
mala,  loraqua  cela  Atait  poaaible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  At6  fiimtes. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commentairea  aupplAmentairaa.- 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 


L'inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  mailleur  exemplaira 
qu'll  lui  a  4t4  poaaible  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  ditaiia 
de  cet  exemplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atre  unlquaa  du 
point  de  vue  bibllographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  Image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmage 
aont  indiquAa  ci-deaaoua. 


I     I   Coloured  pagea/ 


D 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  endommag6ea 

Pagea  reatored  and/oi 

Pagea  reataurtea  et/ou  peliicul6ea 

Pagea  diaculoured,  atained  or  foxei 
Pagea  dice,  jrtea.  tachetiea  ou  piqu6ea 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  d^tachiaa 

Showthroughy 
Tranaparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  inigaie  de  I'impreaaion 

Includea  aupplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  aupplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  diaponlble 


I — I  Pagea  damaged/ 

I      I  Pagea  reatored  and/or  laminated/ 

I      I  Pagea  diaculoured,  atained  or  foxed/ 

I     I  Pagea  detached/ 

r^  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  variea/ 

I      I  Includea  aupplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obacured  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauea,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
enaure  the  beat  poaaible  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obacurciea  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  6t^  filmtea  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  A 
obtenir  ia  meilleure  image  poaaible. 


Cede 
10X 

tcum 

ante 

atfll 

me  au  tau 
14X 

xda 

redu 

ctlon 
18X 

indU 

lue  c 

idea 

aoua 
22X 

26X 

30X 

7 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmad  hare  has  bean  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  of  tha  Public 
ArchivM  of  Canada 


L'axampiaira  fiimi  fut  raproduit  grica  k  la 
g4n*roslt*  da: 

La  bibliothAqua  das  Archivas 
publiquas  du  Canada 


Tha  Imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibla  considaring  tha  condition  and  laglblllty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaapinn  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif icationa. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  AtA  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  l'axampiaira  filmA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
flimaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprasslon. 


Las  axampialras  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  991 
paplar  ast  imprlmAa  sont  filmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  solt  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'Imprassion  ou  d'lllustratlon,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axampialras 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microflcha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^^^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appllas. 


Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microflcha,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  — »•  signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  platas,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  Includad  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framas  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Las  cartas,  pianchas,  tabiaaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atre 
fllmfo  A  das  taux  da  reduction  diffArants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
raproduit  an  un  saul  cliche,  11  ast  film*  A  partir 
da  I'angia  supAriaur  gaucha,  do  gaucha  A  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  bas,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'Imagas  nAcassaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


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A   IvEGEND 


OP* 


GOAT     ISLAND 


Ascribed  to  FATHER  LOUIS  HENNEPIN,  who  visited 
Niagara  in  1678 


BY 

PETER  A.  PORTER 

Sketches    by    C.     BRBCKINRIOOB     PORTBR 


IMI  •AIltlE  Mlti,  NUIMA  FtUI,  N.   V. 


COPVRIQHT 


PCTtl'  «.   PORTER 
1900 


A  LEGEND   OF   GOAT   ISLAND 


TT  is  told  in  Indian  story, 
*■    Dim  tradition  of  the  rriec, 
How,  to  God's  eternal  glory, 
And  tbroiigli  Ilis  all-saving  grace, 
Many  a  warrior's  heart  w;is  stirred 
To  belief  in  His  ever-living  Word, 
And  the  I'aith  that  saves  as  .all. 
By  a  I'riest,  whose  holy  mission 
Overcame  their  su|)erstition 
About  the  Island,  which  divides 
Niagara's  tnmultnous  tides, 
At  the  brink  of  the  mighty  Fall. 

Here  is  the  story,  as  'tis  told 
In  one  of  the  ,.'hronicles  of  old. 


5'T^WAS  many  a  year  ago,  when  o'er 
A     The  land  on  Ni-a-gah-ra's  shore 
The  Neuter  tribe  held  sway. 
On  its  western  bank,  above,  but  near, 


Where  rapids  begin,  in  wild  career 

Toward  the  I'all,  and  down  as  low 

As  a  bark  canoe  could  safely  go. 

One  of  their  villages  lay. 

In  that  village  by  the  rivei'. 

Late  one  eve,  when  bow  and  (|iiiver 

Il.-id  been  laid  aside, 

And  the  warriors  were  sitting 

In  the  silence,  deemed  befitting 

To  an  Indian's  pride, 

A  stranger  in  their  midst  appeared, 

Whose  hoary  locks  and  silverv  beard 

Were  to  their  vision  strange  and  weird. 

He  was  a  man  of  giant  size. 

Which  found  him  favor  in  their  eyes, 

As,  at  his  priestly  garb  am.-ized. 

In  silent  wonderment  they  gazed. 

He  wore  his  Sacred  Order's  gown, 
A  long  hjose  robe  of  reddish  brown. 


i 


Across  liis  slionlfltTs,  liK'Hly  IIuiik, 
Till.'  capo  iinil  cowl  hackwdrd  luiiiK, 
Around  his  wnist  a  rope  was  twined, 
A  Kirdle  and  a  scourge  combined  ; 
While  from  it,  hiinj,'in),'  loose  and  free, 
Suspended  huuK  the  rosary. 
He  was  the  first  of  slrauKcr  race 
They  e'er  had  nut  with,  face  to  face, 
fhough  they  knew  that  such-frocked  men 
Had  visited  their  brethren. 
When  they  saw  him,  brave  and  s(iuavv 
Viewed  him  with  a  reverend  awe. 


A  wanderer,  all  alone  he  came. 

He  bore  no  weapons,  gave  no  name. 

He  said  his  errand  was  to  teach 

The  glories  of  the  Life  to  be, 

When,  after  death,  men's  spirits  reach 

The  confines  of  Eternity, 

And,  as  he  spake  in  Indian  siieech, 

They  listened  most  attentively. 

For  he  had  dwelt  for  many  a  day 

Mid  Indian  tribes,  far,  far  away. 

And  thus  had  learnt  the  Indian  tongue 

From  those  whom  he  had  dwelt  among. 

So,  sullenly,  they  let  him  share 


Their  fire's  warmth  and  frugal  fare, 
And  then  they  sutlered  him  to  tell 
His  mission  in  the  way  he  chose. 
Though  little  c;ired  tiiey  what  befell 
Their  souls,  so  they  but  feasted  well. 
And  were  victorious  o'er  their  foes. 


Later  on,  as  they  were  sitting 

In  the  fire's  cheerful  light. 

Shadows  round  them  weirdly  Hitting, 

As  the  moon  rose  into  sight, 

The  stranger  asked,  in  tunes  of  wonder. 

Whence  that  sound  of  endless  thunder. 

That  dull,  reverberating  sound 

That  seemed  to  shake  the  very  gound? 

For  answer,  came  the  Chief's  command, 
"  Be  patient,  you  shall  understand." 
And,  knowing  Indian  nature  well. 
He  waited  till  they  chose  to  tell. 

Later  yet,  when  chill  and  hoaty 
Lay  th  •  frost  upon  the  ground. 
And  the  moon  in  all  her  glory 
Bathed  in  light  the  scene  around, 
The  Chieftain  rose,  around  him  drew 


Tlij  l)isnn  skin  of  t.'iwny  liiii", 
And  si),'iic(l  ti)  the  priest  to  follow. 
lie  led  him  through  ;i  (Iciise  dark  wood 
Where  many  a  lofty  pine  tree  stood, 
Then  throiif^h  a  windinj;  hollow; 
Wiience,  as  they  suddenly  einerjjed, 
The  rushiii)^  rapids  'neath  them  surged 
O'er  many  a  roeky  lcdj,'e. 
Takini,',  down  stream,  their  silent  way 
Toward  the  risinj;  eloiid  of  spray, 
They  re.'iehed  the  Cataract's  edge; 
And,  from  a  jnttinf;;  shelf  of  stone. 
Saw  Ni-a-jjah-ra,  then  unknown. 
Save  to  the  red  niaf.'s  i<aee  alone. 
Earth's  grandest  sight,  coneeived  to  be 
The  emblem  of  (^lod's  majesty. 

Ne'er  has  the  seenc  which  'ncath  them  lay 
Been  ehronieled  aright. 
For  no  one,  in  a  fitting  way, 
Uy  pen,  nor  pencil,  citii  portray 
The  grandeur  of  that  sight. 


The  Priest,  as  by  the  view  amazed, 
Long  at  the  Falls  and  Rapids  gazed. 
But  not  a  word  he  spoke. 


Then  crossed  himself,  as  if  in  nwc. 
And  'twas  a  holy  sight  he  saw. 
At  Inst  he  turned  him  to  his  guide. 
Who  stood,  like  statue,  by  his  side 
And  thus  the  silence  broke : 


"  For  two  years  past  I've  often  longed 

This  wondrous  sight  to  sec, 

And  memory  has  oft  been  thronged 

With  stories  told  to  me 

By  one,  upon  whose  brow  I  traced 

God's  holy  Cross,  a  chief 

In  whose  narration  1  have  |)laced 

An  absolute  belief. 

The  glories,  which  I  now  behold, 

In  words,  somewhat  like  these,  he  told: 
'  Towards  the  Sun's  ascending  beam. 
Whoe'er  his  journey  takes. 
Will  reach  a  bro;ul  and  rapid  stream 
Which  joins  two  mighty  lakes. 
Midway  in  this  river's  course 
A  wondrous  fidl  is  found 
Where,  with  !in  overwhelming  force 
The  waters,  rushing  in  their  might, 
Plunge  downward  o'er  a  fearful  height 
With  a  stupefying  sound. 


T 


Ki},'lit  nt  the  prccipici-  so  steep, 
Wlieie  llie  river  takes  this  awful  leap, 
Is  phieed  an  Ishiiul,  small  in  size, 
Ihtt  like  an  earthly  paradise. 
For  lovelier  spot  is  nowhere  found 
Than  this,  our  Indian  Inirinl  }j;round; 
Where  none,  unless  with  honor  erowned, 
Can  ever  be  interred. 
None  1)Ut  hrave  men  e'er  can  reach 
It's  wooded  shore  and  roeky  beach, 
Whereon  the  sound  of  human  speech 
Is  scarcely  ever  heard. 
For  on  this  Isle  deep-buried  lie 
The  bones  of  m;iny  a  Brave, 
And  Indian  chiefs  invariid)ly 
Ask  this  spot  for  their  yrave. 
Thus  it  h;is  been,  in  days  of  yore. 
And  it  is  my  e;irnest  pra-ii , 
That,  when  this  mortal  life  is  o'er. 
And  my  soul  is  on  the  other  shore. 
My  bones  may  be  buried  there. 
That  Ni-a-g;'ih-ra's  mighty  roar 
So  solemn,  grand  and  deep. 
May  be  my  dirge  forevcrmorc 
As  'twi.\t  its  Falls  I  sleep.' 
"  Since  he  told  me  I've  often  pr.-iyed 


That  hither  1  might  be  led, 
And  to  my  vision  be  displayed, 
In  its  scenic  majesty  arrayed, 
The  fairest  spot  liod  ever  made, 
This  Island  of  the  dead." 

The  Chief  assented,  "  All  you  heard 
Was  true  to  the  minutest  word  ; 
But  one  more  fact  I  must  iMif';ld 
Kre  all  the  Island's  talc  is  Inld, 
Note  its  wondrous  situation, 
'Tis  our  Spirit's  dread  abode ; 
'Tis  a  spot  that,  since  Creation, 
Coward's  foot  li;is  never  trod. 
None  hut  warriors  can  reach  it. 
Others,  should  they  dare  to  try, 
So  our  old  traditions  teach  it, 
As  they  touch  its  soil,  tiicy  die." 

"  All  that  is  false,"  the  I'ricst  replied, 
"  Whoever  taught  you  that  has  lied; 
Stnmg  words,  I  know,  but  justified. 
For  l)od  alone,  who  gave  us  breath. 
Has  power  over  life  and  death." 

The  Chief  declared,  "  His  faith  is  best 
Who  dares  to  put  it  to  the  test. 


T 


I  judge  men's  taitli  in  lint  oir'  wiiy, 
'Tis  wliiil  tlicv  (Id,  not  wlinl  tlicy  say. 
If  yon  Ijclicvc  that  yon'll  survive, 
I'll  tiikf  yon  there  tonight, 
And,  if  yon  tread  its  shore  alive, 
Will  own  that  yon  are  right; 
Then,  I'll  believe  in  what  yon  preaeh. 
And  worship  Him  of  whom  yon  te.'ieli." 

The  I'riesl  responded,  "  Now  'tis  elenr, 

Why  1  have  heendireeled  liere. 

Your  sacred  Island  is  to  lie 

My  nie.'ins  of  jiroving  eoiielnsively 

To  Indian  Tribes  forevermore 

The  power  of  Mini  whom  1  adore. 

An  early  proof  is  all  1  crave, 

I"or  never  yet  did  Indian  brave, 

Who'd  traveled  far  to  deal  tiie  blow 

Of  death  to  his  relentless  foe 

With  greater  joy  await  the  Iionr 

That  placed  his  victim  in  his  power 

Than  I  impatiently  await 

The  moment  yonder  Isle  I  reach, 

And  thereby  clearly  demonstrntc 

The  holy  prcce])ts  th.'it  I  teach. 

So  come,  tho'  here  I  fain  would  stay 


My  livndH  to  tell  ami  jirayers  to  say, 
I'll  worship  ("lod  on  the  Isl.ind's  shore 
After  the  test  yon  name  is  o'er." 

A  look  of  wonder  and  surprise 
Shone  in  the  Indian  Chieftain's  eyes. 
His  sole  reply,  "So  let  it  lie, 
Vour  death  shall  pay  the  penally." 

In  perfect  silence  liaclj  they  went, 
liach  <in  the  coining  voyage  intent. 
When  the  village  they  had  reached. 
To  where  his  bark  canoe  lav  bejiched 
The  Chieft.Min  turned  aside. 
(The  bison  skin,  he  Hung  therein), 
Quickly  he  launched  it,  in  he  leapt, 
And,  waiting  till  the  I'riesl  Inid  slept 
ItUo  his  place,  he  bade  him  kneel. 
So  the  bark  might  ride  on  even  keel, 
Then  pushed  it  out  on  the  tide. 
Swiftly  it  darle<l  from  the  land, 
I'rijpellcd  by  strong  and  fearless  hand, 
Over  the  dangerous  eurrciU  Hies, 
As  the  Chief  the  p;uldle  rapidly  plies, 
Until,  the  wildest  portion  crossed. 
The  frail  canoe  is  no  longer  tossed 


Hv  curling  waves,  Iml  llonls,  iiwIiiU', 
(11  llie  (jiiiil  sliciiin  al.ovc  llir  IxK'. 
"...wnnls  whnw  l)Ciicli  it  slowly  ^'lidis 
|.-<.r  woal  or  woe,  an  its  voyage  bcliiKs. 

Tlic  I'rii'st  slcMid  ail,  almve  liis  lurid 
riic  holy  Cross  he  raised, 
.  nd  thJ  words  of  llie  "  Misereri"  said 
,\f.  heaveawards  lie),'azed. 

Tlic  l)ark  aieanwliile, 

Has  reaelied  llie  Isle, 

A  inonieal  more, 

And  the  test  is  o'er. 

The  Priest  slepiied  boldly  on  the  sod. 
To  prove  the  |)ower  of  his  Cod, 
And,  kncelinK""  the  shore, 
I'oured  forth  .a  psalin  of  praise  to  Ilini 
VVlaan  Cherid)im  aad  Seraphim 
Continually  adore. 

Then,  nsinj,',  he  addressed  the  Chief 
Who,  siltinK  i"  the  hark  eanoe, 
I'olt  more  of  wonder  thnn  of  Krief 
At  seeinj;  that  his  old  belief 
Was  wholly  I'dse,  for  now  he  knew 
That  all  the  Priest  had  said  was  true. 


"  I  tread  this  Isle  alive,  and  show 

Your  Spirit's  boasted  power 

To  be  but  falsehood;  will  you  now 

I'uirdlyours.demn  Chieftain's  vow. 

And  own  that  Cod,  by  whom  I'm  sent 

To  teaeh  yo\i,  is  omnipotent. 

In  this  auspieiouH  hour?" 

As  by  the  issue  sluprfu'd. 

The  Chieflain  doublianly  ''cpl'^'''' 

"  I  little  lli"U),dil  you  now  would  lie 

.Mive  toel.dm  my  fealty; 

llul  further  proof  you  yet  must  give 

llefore  I  eaii  fully  agree, 

Although  you  tread  the  Isle,  and  live, 

You  have  proved  eonelusively 

That  the  Spirit  I've  adored  so  hmg 

Is  powerless,  and  my  worship  wrong. 

Perhaps  that  Spirit,  seeing  yon  cared 

So  little  for  death,  y-mr  life  has  spared 

Thus  far.  but  if  you  long  remain 

On  the  IsW,  you  surely  shall  be  slain. 

So   if  you  heed  my  advice,  return." 

Haughtily  spake  the  Priest,  "I  spurn 

Your  advice,  so  artfully  given. 

Daring  your  Spirit,  I  have  shown 


Till'  power  (if  (K.itli  liclcin^N  nlonc 

To  lliiii.  who  oil  till'  xrciit  wliili'  Throni', 

HwL'lli'tli  l(,i       r  ill  lli'iivi-n. 

Now,  pondii  ■M'll  licforr  you  upcak, 

Thou  U'll  V  hill  riirtlii'i-  |iroof  vmi  Meek." 

Aiis'   I'    il  the  CiiicI,  "11    i>i'  you  liiTi', 
With  none  to  lid  y   m,  naiij,'ht  to  elieer, 
And  svlicMi  tn\  .Mrrow'n  Him 
Ih  lliiii  ill  '  lir  luaveiis,  I'll  eonic  nKaiii. 
If,  till  II,  I  lliil  you  have  not  been  Hiaiii 
Hy  my  SpiritV  ntiKht, 
I'"oi'  your  act  toni>;ht, 
Your  vietory  will  lie  wmi." 

The  I'ricKt  rc(i!ic  d,  "I'll  ^^ive  ain'w 
This  proof,  that  all  my  words  are  true; 
Hut,  do  not  come  till  another  day 
In  its  rapid  llijjlit  has  |),iHHcd  nway. 
When,  next,  the  rays  of  the  settinj,'  sun 
Illumine  the  Falls,  as  the  day  is  done, 
Oo  to  the  spot  where  timJKht  we  stood, 
Close  to  the  c(lj,'e  of  the  lieadlonp;  Mood, 
At  that  hour,  and  at  this  edjre 
Of  that  same  l''all,  on  the  roeky  ledj,'e 
Of  the  Island's  shore,  I'll  take  my  stand 
That  you,  and  nil  your  warrior  band. 


May  nee  that  I  live;  and  then  to  sho'v 
Thnt  faith  in  your  Spirit  you  ilinnvow, 
Kneel  down    ard  there,  beside  I  he  l'"all, 
In  the  nan".'  of  (iod,  I  will  bless  voii  all. 
Then,  at  thin  hour,  tomorrow  niijht, 
In  yonder  moon's  ('tTul>»ent  liKlu, 
Ilrinj;  your  bark  to  this  spot  once  more, 
And  take  me  Imek  to  the  other  shore. 
Now  (,'(),  and  leave  me,  despite  your  fear, 
Alone  with  my  Maker,  who  led  me  here." 

The  Chief,  where  t'  .  i|uiet  wa'.       lay, 
Up  stream,  pursued  'is  homownrd  w/iy, 
To  wait  the  close  of  another  day. 
The  I'riesi,  i'lieath  those  lofly  trees, 
In  adoration  fell  on  his  knecH, 


All  iiiRht  lonj;,  on  that  wondcH'ul  Hod, 
Where  never  before  li.id  white  man  trod. 
He  wandered,  ceaselessly  praising  God 
For  the  mercies  to  him  granted. 
Oft,  in  worship  lie  bowed  his  head. 
His  beads  he  told,  his  prayers  he  said. 
Ami,  'mid  those  graves  o.f  unknown  dead. 
O'er  whom  no  burial  rites  were  read. 
The  "Nunc  Dimittis"  he  chanted. 


All  next  day,  in  the  forest's  shade 
In  solitude,  he  watched  and  prayed. 

And  that  evening,  at  the  hour 

When,  in  lands  where  Christians  dwell, 

From  each  old  cathedral  tower 

Rings  aloud  the  Vesper  bell , 

The  aged  Priest  his  way  did  wend 

Toward  the  sotting  sun, 

To  where,  at  the  Island's  western  end 

The  greater  waves  of  rapids  descend. 

And  the  swifter  currents  run. 

Adown  the  slope  he  made  his  way 

•Mid  bushes  wet  with  driven  spray, 

Until  he  reached  the  rocky  ledge. 

Close  to  the  Cataract's  eastern  edge. 

While  he  stood  there,  in  the  blaze 

Of  the  setting  sun's  departing  rays. 

The  spray-cloud  hovered  low. 

And,  as  it  settled  above  his  head, 

Across  it,  in  gorgeous  colors  spread. 

Appeared  the  sign  of  the  promise  made 

By  God  to  man,  as  the  Flood  He  stayed. 

The  evanescent  Bow. 

When  the  sun  in  splendor  sank 

Behind  the  fir  trees  tall, 


Gazing  toward  the  farther  bank. 

With  a  joy  no  pen  can  e'er  describe. 

He  saw  the  Chief  and  warrior  tribe 

At  the  other  end  of  the  Fall. 

The  Chief,  who  saw  him  as  he  moved 

From  out  the  forest's  shade, 

And  realiz-ed  that  again  he'd  proved 

The  truth  of  all  he  said. 

Knelt,  so  the  Priest  might  comi.rchend 

That  faith  in  his  Spirit  was  at  an  end. 

The  warriors  knelt  beside  their  Chiel, 

Thus  emphasizing  their  beliel. 

The  Priest  was  there  by  God's  own  will, 

A  holy  mission  to  fulfill. 

Ills  human  voice,  in  th.t  grand  roar. 

Could  not  have  reached  the  other  shore, 

No  matter  how  he  had  striven. 

Yet  he  spake  the  Word, 

Though  it  was  not  heard, 

And  he  raised  his  hands. 

As  our  God  commands, 

And  lift<-d  his  eyes  to  Heaven; 

Thus,  in  the  way  the  Church  decrees 

T<,  suppliants,  tho' afar,  on  their  knees, 

Was  the  Benediction  given. 


The  Priest  was  with  emotion  thrilled, 
His  itiintl  with  sacred  thoughts  instilled, 
And,  in  imaginative  mood, 
Again  in  a  holy  Church  he  stood, 
(It  was  three  long  years  since  he 
Had  stept  within  a  Sacristy). 

A  wondrous  Church  it  was,  indeed, 
By  Nature's  changeless  laws  decreed, 
Tho'  man  reared  not  the  structui-e  fair. 
All  cluirchly  attributes  were  there. 

The  gorge  was  the  glorified  N.-ive, 

Whose  floor  was  the  einer.-ild  wave. 

The  mighty  Fall 

Was  the  Keredos  tall. 

The  Altar,  tlie  pme  while  fo.im, 

The  azure  sky. 

So  clear  and  lii^li, 

Was  simply  the  vaulted  Dome. 

The  column  of  spray. 

On  its  upward  way, 

Was  the  smoke  of  Incense  burned ; 

The  Cataract's  roar. 

Now  less,  now  more. 

As  it  rose  and  fell, 


Like  an  organ's  swell 
Into  sacred  music  turned. 
While,  like  a  Baldaeliin,  o'erhead 
The  spray-cloud,  in  its  glory,  spread 
Its  crest,  by  the  setting  sun  illumed. 
The  form  of  a  holy  Cross  assumed. 

The  vision  gone,  the  Priest  once  more 
Stood,  simply  on  the  Island's  shore. 
Slowly  he  climbed  the  bank  again. 
And  into  the  forest  passed, 
His  body  weak  with  cold  and  pain 
From  his  long  and  sleepless  fast. 
Little  he  cared  for  the  food  and  rest 
His  mortal  being  craved. 
He  only  thought,  how,  at  his  behest, 
The  Chief  and  warriors  had  confessed 
lielief  in  God,  and  had  been  blest. 
And  their  souls  might  thus  be  saved. 

Again,  amongst  the  trees  he  knelt, 
Expressive  of  the  joy  he  felt. 
In  worship,  loud,  his  voice  he  raised, 
His  tones  through  the  forest  rang. 
As  the  ever-living  God  he  praised, 
And  the  "Jubilate"  sang. 


The  twiliRht  passed,  but  the  aged  Priest 
From  his  adorations  had  not  ceased ; 
The  darkness  came,  but  his  only  thought 
Was  praise  of  Him  whose  word  he  taught ; 
The  moon  arose,  and  found  him  there, 
Still  in  the  attitude  of  prayer. 
Rut  when  in  the  Heavens,  higli  and  elear 
She  stood,  and  midnight's  hour  was  near. 
He  rose  and  went  to  the  rocky  beach, 
Where  alone  the  Island  one  may  reach. 

Soon  the  Chief,  in  his  birchen  bark. 
Came  swiftly  over  the  waters  dark. 
And  reaching  the  Island's  shore 
Cried,  "  .\s  God's  follower,  receive 
An  erring  man.     I  now  believe 
In  Him,  forcvcrniore." 

As  the  Priest  to  meet  him  came 

He  said,  "  Paptize  me,  in  His  name." 

The  Priest  bent  down  to  the  river's  bed 

And  dipped  his  hand  in  the  wave, 

Then  bade  him  kneel,  and  on  his  head 

Poured  the  water,  and  joyously  said, 

"  Your  soul  I  hereby  save. 

First  convert  of  the  Neuter  race, 

Upon  your  forehead,  thus,  I  trace 


The  Cross's  holy  sign  ; 

And  thereby,  as  you  now  believe 

In  God's  omnipotence,  receive 

You  into  Ilis  Church  divine. 

And,  in  the  Faith  you  have  confessed, 

I  bless  you,  and  you  shall  be  blest." 

Put  meanwhile  many  a  bark  canoe. 
Bearing  those  Xeuter  warriors  true 
Was  rapidly  coming  down  the  tide, 
Along  the  path,  where  the  waves  divide. 

As  the  Isle  these  warriors  reached, 
Tiieir  fiail  canoes  they  safely  beached, 
Then  stepped  to  the  Chieftain's  side; 
Beneath  that  grand  primeval  wood 
In  awe-felt  silence,  there  they  stood. 
It  was  a  noble  sight,  and  good. 
For  the  Priest,  in  his  holy  pride. 

For  of  the  bravest  of  the  laiul 
Was  that  converted  warrior  band, 
All  firm  in  their  new  Belief; 
And,  on  this  wondrous  Island's  sod, 
Before  that  holy  man  of  God, 
Knelt  their  baptized  Chief 


T 

I 


T 

1 


■  •   •    •    ■   The   Island,   wliicli  divides 
Niagara's  tLinuiltuous  tides, 
At  the  brink  of  the  mighty   Fall." 


Aful,   from   a  jutting  slielf  of  stone, 
Saw    Ni-n-gali-ra,   then   unknown, 
Save  to  the  red   man's   Race  alone. 


The   Priest  stood   up,  above  his   head 
The  holy  Cross  he  raised," 


»r 


i^ittMl^lMI^^ 


"  Thus,    in  the  way  the  Church  decrees 
To  suppliants,  tho'  afar,   on  their  knees. 
Was  the  Benediction  given." 


'  While,   like  a   Baldachin,   o'erhcad 
The  spray-cloud,   in   its  glory,   spread. 


...    On  this  wondrous   Island's  sod 
Before  that  holy  man  of  God, 
Knelt  their  baptized  Chief." 


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j 
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